Intel Core i7-2600K vs AMD Phenom X3 8400

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-2600K and AMD Phenom X3 8400 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s).

Intel Core i7-2600K

AMD Phenom X3 8400

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-2600K

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 10 month(s) later
Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
1 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 3
Around 81% higher clock speed: 3.80 GHz vs 2.1 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 65 nm
4x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
2.1x better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1744 vs 819
4.7x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 5487 vs 1164
Around 30% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 3117 vs 2405

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	3 January 2011 vs March 2008
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	4 vs 3
Maximum frequency	3.80 GHz vs 2.1 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 65 nm
L3 cache	8192 KB vs 2048 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1744 vs 819
PassMark - CPU mark	5487 vs 1164
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3117 vs 2405

Reasons to consider the AMD Phenom X3 8400

Around 50% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 50% more L2 cache; more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 20% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 973 vs 811

Specifications (specs)
L1 cache	128 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	512 KB (per core) vs 1024 KB
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	973 vs 811

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-2600K
CPU 2: AMD Phenom X3 8400

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1744

819

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

5487

1164

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

811

973

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

3117

2405

Name	Intel Core i7-2600K	AMD Phenom X3 8400
PassMark - Single thread mark	1744	819
PassMark - CPU mark	5487	1164
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	811	973
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3117	2405
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	1845
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	4.524
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	77.745
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.602
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	2.129
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	5.018

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-2600K	AMD Phenom X3 8400
Essentials
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge	Toliman
Launch date	3 January 2011	March 2008
Launch price (MSRP)	$317
Place in performance rating	2303	2297
Price now	$189.99
Processor Number	i7-2600K
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	13.10
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.40 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI
Die size	216 mm	285 mm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	128 KB (per core)
L2 cache	1024 KB	512 KB (per core)
L3 cache	8192 KB	2048 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	65 nm
Maximum core temperature	72.6°C
Maximum frequency	3.80 GHz	2.1 GHz
Number of cores	4	3
Number of threads	8
Transistor count	995 Million	450 million
Unlocked
Memory
Max memory channels	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	21 GB/s
Maximum memory size	32 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1066/1333
Graphics
Device ID	0x112
Graphics base frequency	850 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.35 GHz
Graphics max frequency	1.35 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Processor graphics	Intel® HD Graphics 3000
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported	2
Wireless Display (WiDi) support
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	LGA1155	AM2+
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt	95 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	16
PCI Express revision	2.0
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)